Engine block for an internal combustion engine

Abstract

An engine block 10 is disclosed having machined front and rear faces. Each of the front and rear faces is capable of receiving and sealing against a housing ( 20,40 ) enclosing a gear train for coupling the engine crankshaft to a camshaft of the engine. The front face is additionally capable of directly receiving and sealing against an engine front cover while the rear face is additionally capable of directly receiving and sealing against a flywheel housing. In this way, the same engine block may be selectively assembled into an engine having a front mounted or a rear mounted camshaft gear train.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as normal and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:  
     
       1. An engine block having machined front and rear faces, wherein each of the front and rear faces is capable of receiving and sealing against a housing enclosing a gear train for coupling the engine crankshaft to a camshaft of the engines, and wherein the front face is additionally capable of directly mating with and sealing against an engine front cover and the rear face is additionally capable of directly mating with and sealing against a flywheel housing, whereby the same engine block may be selectively assembled into an engine having one of a front mounted and a rear mounted camshaft gear train, wherein each cover and housing has a plurality of holes in predetermined positions, machined sealing surfaces on the front and rear faces have a plurality of holes in predetermined positions, there being sufficient numbers of holes on the front and rear faces of the block to align with all the holes of the covers and housings, said block further comprising fastening elements received in said holes, whereby there are redundant holes in any selected camshaft gear train configuration. 
     
     
       2. An engine block as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising fastening elements provided at both ends of the engine to receive an axial thrust bearing plate to limit the axial displacement of the camshaft. 
     
     
       3. An engine block as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the fastening elements at the front face of the engine for receiving an axial thrust bearing plate are suitable to receiving a front cover overlying the end of the camshaft and the front end of the crankshaft. 
     
     
       4. An engine block as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a water pump fastening element only at the front end of the engine. 
     
     
       5. An engine block as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising fastening elements for mounting a gear driven oil pump only at the front end of the engine to be driven from the front end of the engine crankshaft. 
     
     
       6. An engine block as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising bushed cam journals provided at both ends of the engine for supporting the camshaft. 
     
     
       7. An engine block as claimed in  claim 1 , a symmetrical bolt pattern on an open lower surface, said block further comprising an oil pan mounted on the underside of the engine.